HIV drug market will grow to an $8 billion industry by 2013

Decision Resources, Inc., a research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and health care issues, forecasts that the HIV drug market will grow to more than $8 billion by 2013.

Novel therapeutic classes that augment treatment options for the treatment-experienced population will drive the market.

The new Pharmacor study entitled Human Immunodeficiency Virus finds that, despite advances in therapy, the HIV drug market is constrained by social and political pressures on the pharmaceutical industry. "HIV is a highly politically and socially charged disease, this factor has important implications for drug developers," said Aarti Raja, Ph.D., analyst, Decision Resources. "Pharmaceutical manufacturers have been under increasing public pressure to address the global HIV crisis by drastically reducing drug prices for developing countries.

Beyond the profitability concerns directly related to the developing world, manufacturers worry that the high price differentials created by such a move may increase price pressure in the major markets."